East

Thank you to all who celebrated the grand opening of the East Branch!

The Standard @ East Library

Milwaukee residents have a new East Branch of the Milwaukee Public Library. The Standard @ East Library - a 5-story building housing a new 16,000 square foot library, 99 apartments with underground parking, surface parking for library patrons and a retail space adjacent to the library on the first floor. The Standard @ East Library is developed by HSI, Inc. and designed by Engberg Anderson. For more information contact (414) 227-0900 or visit www.thestandardmke.com/.

With the support of Mayor Tom Barrett and the Common Council, the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees approved the construction of a new East Branch as part of the mixed-use development. Milwaukee Public Library selected HGA Architects to design the new library. Winner of the Milwaukee Business Journal's Real Estate Award for Best New Development - Residential.

Exterior Public Art - Ray Chi Selected to Commission Public Art

Ray Chi, a 2013 Mary L. Nohl Fellowship recipient in the established artist category. His work varies greatly from furniture and film to public art. He is currently an associate lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

“I am truly honored to have been selected for this public art commission. I have called this city 'home' for the past 16 years and have always considered the East Library to be ‘my library,’” said Chi. “I feel a special sense of duty to give back to this place that has given so much to me and my family over the years. It is my hope that this artwork will help rekindle a sense of wonder in all of us, and open our eyes and minds to the potential for beauty to reveal itself in every aspect of our daily lives.”

Timeline
November 20 RFQ Issued
December 9 Artist portfolios due
December 16 Committee meets to review portfolios; selects finalists
December 20 Finalists invited to submit proposals
January 21 – 4:00 pm Artist proposals due
January 24 Proposals posted on library website; public input accepted
February 4 Public Presentations by artists; committee selects artists
February 28 Contracts Issued
March ? July Design and fabrication process
July ? October Installations scheduled and completed
November 2014 Library Opens

Interior Public Art

The new East Branch features two public art works commissioned by the library. A Request for Qualifications seeking artists’ portfolios was issued in June. Five finalists were selected from the entries and asked to submit site-specific concept proposals and present the concepts at a public meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12. The finalists were selected by the Public Art Selection Committee (members can be found on page 5 of the RFQ.) The artists and/or artistic teams who were selected as finalists are listed below, as well as the two artists who were chosen, Santiago Cucullu and kathryn e. martin.

The public art project for the East Branch is funded by grants received from the Milwaukee Arts Board and the Mary Nohl Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and from the the sale of the former East Library Eames furnishings.